Stephen Foster grabbed a dramatic last-gasp equaliser to earn Barnsley a valuable point and hold up Cardiff's promotion push.

The hosts had looked set to move a step closer to the Barclays Premier League when centre-half Ben Turner guided home Kim Bo-Kyung's corner just before the hour mark.

The Welsh side also hit the post through Craig Bellamy, but they were punished for failing to capitalise on their dominance when Foster's deflected shot trickled over the line with what was effectively the last kick of the match.

Late drama: Foster is mobbed (middle) after scoring the equaliser for Barnsley

Despite the setback, Cardiff's
promotion still appears a formality as they now lead third-placed
Watford by nine points with five games remaining.

Barnsley, though, will not care about
spoiling the party after stealing a point which moves them two clear of
the drop zone, despite being penned in their own half for much of the
game.

The tone of the contest was set
during a confident start from the hosts, which saw Tommy Smith, Bellamy
and Aron Gunnarsson all got away shots on goal, although Luke Steele was
only required to save the first of those efforts.

Bellamy came close to rewarding the
bright opening in the 18th minute – Steele diverting his shot against
the post after the Wales international retrieved Smith's fizzing ball
across the box.

Barnsley were happy to drop deep and
look to hit on the break, but it took almost half an hour for them to
threaten the Cardiff goal; Marlon Harewood had the ball in the net but
was correctly called back for offside.

Jordan Mutch, Kim and Gunnarsson were
enjoying the run of midfield, and Steele made an excellent save to tip
the former Birmingham man's stinging drive round the post.

The midfield trio linked beautifully
again on 37 minutes, and it took a brave Foster block to deny Gunnarsson
as he prepared to pull the trigger.

The extent of Cardiff's dominance was
such it appeared a case of when, not if, they would open the scoring,
but the Tykes gave them a real scare early in the second half.

The Bluebirds were slow to react to a
short corner and Bobby Hassell just failed to make a telling contact
with David Perkins' pin-point cross.

Cardiff responded to the wake-up call
and a lovely touch from Mutch set up Kim for the Korean to fire across
goal, while Leon Barnett could not adjust in time after Steele punched
poorly in his own six-yard box.

Going up Cardiff will hope they can still gain promotion with the remaining five games

Going up Cardiff will hope they can still gain promotion with the remaining five games

The pressure had to tell, and the goal finally came from an unlikely source.

Kim whipped a dangerous corner into
the six-yard box and Turner stuck out a leg to guide the ball just
inside the post for his first goal of the season.

The lead was almost doubled three
minutes later. Mutch had a shot blocked by Hassell, while Barnett and
Gunnarsson had efforts cleared off the line from the resulting corner.

With a single-goal lead, Cardiff were
far from out of sight, and Harewood spurned Barnsley's best chance of
the night with a tame effort from Stephen Dawson's astute pass.

Substitute Heidar Helguson wasted a
wonderful chance to wrap up the three points in stoppage time, and it
proved costly as Foster's shot took a big deflection to leave David
Marshall stranded and level the scores.

Everton beat host of Premier League rivals to signature of Barnsley defender Stones

By
Andy James

PUBLISHED:

22:35 GMT, 31 January 2013

|

UPDATED:

00:03 GMT, 1 February 2013

Everton have signed defender John Stones from Barnsley on a five-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

Sportsmail revealed last month that relegation-threatened Wigan had joined Chelsea, Aston Villa Sunderland, Manchester City and Everton in the race for the 3million-rated prospect.

Stones is one of the most coveted young defenders in the country and is a real coup for manager David Moyes.

On the move: John Stones (left) has left Barnsley for Goodison Park

He told Everton's official website: 'I am very excited to be joining Everton. I've been very impressed with everything I have seen at Finch Farm already. Now the hard work begins.'

The 6ft 2in England Under 19 international made his Tykes debut last March after progressing through the youth ranks at Oakwell.

He featured 28 times for the npower Championship club, netting his first goal in the 4-3 Capital One Cup triumph over Rochdale in August.

In demand: Stones had attracted the attention of several big clubs

Stones added: 'I would like to take this opportunity of thanking everybody at Barnsley for helping me in my development.

'They include Ronnie Branson and all the academy staff; Keith Hill and David Flitcroft for giving me the chance to play first-team football. Also all the backroom staff such as Guy Proctor, John Lucas and Craig Sedgwick.

'They are just some of the people who I owe a debt of gratitude to and I wish Barnsley every success for the future.'

The forward's deflected strike 15 minutes from time set up the glamour tie against the current European champions – but only after an extraordinary showcase of shot-stopping from Smith.

Assistant boss Alan Kernaghan, stepping in for flu-stricken manager Uwe Rosler, in the post-match press-conference, said: 'I thought our performance was excellent, if we are critical we didn't score enough of our chances but that was because of the keeper. He made three or four world class saves.

'When the Chelsea game comes around it will be a good occasions, but there's plenty time before then.'

Victory: Donaldson scored the winning goal for Brentford in the 76th minute

He added: 'We know it will be difficult, they
are the Champions League holders, but if we go about the game plan we
come up with we will be in with a chance.' The 29 league places between
the two sides was abundantly clear in the first half, as Brentford
threatened to run-riot.

The impressive Harry Forrester showed
why he has been linked with a move to Dutch giants Ajax in the 14th
minute as he rattled the crossbar with a sweetly struck half-volley from
30 yards.

Smith was forced into the first of
his saves a minute later, tipping over Adam Forshaw's cross-come-shot
round the post, before denying Forrester's powerful effort from the edge
of the box.

Smith was at it again, this time
denying Donaldson's flicked effort from Lee Hodson's cross before
Brentford finally broke the deadlock in the 26th minute.

Bees forward Paul Hayes expertly
cushioned a volley past Smith from close range after another dangerous
Hodson cross to give Rosler's side a deserved lead.

But the home side were nearly
punished for their earlier wastefulness in the 34th minute when Anthony
Starker inexplicably fired wide from three yards after keeper Simon
Moore could only parry his initial header on to the woodwork.

That scare was the cue for Smith to
continue his one-man show of defiance, denying Donaldson, Hayes and
Forshaw with excellent stops before the break.

Level: Corr equalised for Southend with 20 minutes to play

Michael Timlin missed a glorious
chance for Southend to notch a shock leveller three minutes into the
second period as Paul Sturrock's side came out with renewed spark.

But the Bees were handed the chance
to book the clash against Frank Lampard and co in the 55th minute when
Mark Phillips tripped Donaldson inn the box.

However, Smith against came to his side's rescue, saving Forrester's well-placed spot kick.

And the 33-year-old keeper's heroics
finally came home to roost when Southend grabbed an unlikely equaliser
in the 68th minute as Barry Corr nodded home Ryan Leonard's cross.

Donaldson and Forrester were against denied by the brilliant Smith as Brentford put their foot down in search of a winner.

But there was nothing Smith could do
nothing about Donaldson's fierce 76th-minute strike that flew past him
at the near post after a wicked deflection off Luke Prosser as Brentford
rubber-stamped their first clash against west London neighbours Chelsea
since 1950.

Rudy Gestede scored the only goal of the game as league leaders Cardiff made it three in a row against Millwall to move five points clear of second placed Hull.

Manager Malky Mackay dropped striker Heidar Helguson in favour of 24-year-old Gestede who partnered Craig Bellamy while Aron Gunnarsson also came into the midfield.

And it was the former Metz forward who was quickest to repay the faith of his manager after just eight minutes when Craig Noone beat Shane Lowry with a mazy run before crossing for the Frenchman who tapped home from six yards.

The visitors' problems worsened 10
minutes later when winger Scott Malone had to be replaced by Liam Feeney
with the Bluebirds already in a rampant mood.

Former Aston Villa defender Lowry
made amends for his early lapse blocking a Bellamy effort inside the box
while goalkeeper David Forde was forced to deal with a flurry of tricky
deliveries in quick succession.

But they were showing no lack of
firepower themselves following 11-goal Chris Wood's return to parent
club West Brom. Lowry delivered for Darius Henderson on 24 minutes whose
header drew a fine stop from David Marshall.

Lions skipper Danny Shittu, who
requested not to be selected by Nigeria for the Africa Cup of Nations
earlier this week, had to be alert at the opposite end just after the
half-hour mark to get in the way of Craig Conway's goal-bound effort.

The hosts were forced into a change
of their own just before the half-time whistle when Aron Gunnarsson had
to make way for Jordon Mutch. The switch interrupted the flow of the
game and they had Marshall to thank again seconds later when he blocked a
stinging drive from Shittu with his feet to ensure they led at the
break.

Substitute Mutch went close to a
second 10 minutes after the restart but Forde produced a flying save to
keep out his long range drive.

Dangerous in attack, the hosts looked
susceptible at the back and Dany N'Guessan, recalled to the starting XI
following the departure of Wood, fired a warning shot into the side
netting on the hour mark after a swift counter attack.

Kenny Jackett's side were firmly on
top in the second-half and the impressive Marshall was again called into
action minutes later this time tipping Henry's free-kick round the
post.

His opposite number was keen to prove
his worth as the game began to open up in the final 20 minutes and
Forde kept them in it with a brilliant parry to deny Noone.

Mackay
introduced Helguson in place of Gestede 13 minutes from time as the
Bluebirds used all their experience to hold on for a vital three points.

The centre-back nodded the visitors in front amid pouring rain in the 35th minute, only for Jonathan Greening to equalise almost immediately from long range with his first goal since joining on loan from Nottingham Forest last month.

Barnsley were the better side and missed plenty of chances against a Blues outfit who were disorganised defensively, with Craig Davies, a boyhood Blues fan who scored four goals in September's 5-0 rout at St Andrew's, blazing over a second-half penalty after Steven Caldwell's handball.

And the hosts were punished almost immediately as Curtis Davies, unmarked from another set-piece, converted his fourth header in six games to clinch matters in the 77th minute.

It was only a second win in nine games for Lee Clark's 19th-placed side and just their third away victory of the season.

The Tykes missed out on the chance to record back-to-back league wins for the first time in 2012 after Saturday's 2-1 win at Millwall ended an 11-match winless run, and they are now second-bottom in the table without a home win since September 1.

Barnsley enjoyed the better of proceedings early on, Jim O'Brien seeing an effort blocked by Curtis Davies although the visitors did force a succession of three corners in which they failed to prosper.

Birmingham's young England goalkeeper Jack Butland kept the score down at St Andrew's in September and he was twice called upon here in the opening exchanges.

First he got down low to deny Stephen Dawson before a better save kept out Marcus Tudgay's header.

Points in the bag: Davies celebrates his brace

Luke Steele was still to be called upon as the half-hour mark passed, with Barnsley much the stronger.

But, out of nowhere, Curtis Davies – as he did in Saturday's 2-2 draw against Burnley – headed Birmingham in front.

Robert Hall delivered another excellent set-piece, Birmingham's main threat, which Davies nodded home unchallenged at the near post.

However, the lead did not last long as Birmingham's frailties in defence were fully exposed.

Barnsley applied pressure almost straight from kick-off with Dawson seeing a strike blocked and, with the visitors struggling to fully clear their lines, the ball broke for Greening, who converted low from distance.

The soaking wet playing surface was hardly helping matters but Barnsley continued to enjoy the better of matters in the first half, despite Blues enjoying another three successive corners.

The visitors' defence was exposed again within a minute of the restart but a swift move ended when Chris Dagnall could only slide the ball behind.

Chris Burke was introduced off the bench for Birmingham and he added a fresh attacking dimension.

John Stones saw an effort blocked by a late Blues tackle and, with the game flowing from end to end, Barnsley were awarded a spot-kick in the 73rd minute for a somewhat harsh handball decision against Caldwell.

But Craig Davies, who had only been on the pitch five minutes, blazed his spot-kick high over the bar.

A superb stop from Butland kept out a header from fellow sub Matty Done before Curtis Davies then settled matters in the 77th minute via another inch-perfect delivery from Hall.

Craig Bellamy looked a threat on the counter-attack throughout and it was he who grabbed the only goal of the game against the run of play after 25 minutes.

The Wales international showed great technique after collecting Craig Conway's pass to find the bottom left-hand corner of the net from 12 yards out.

That seemed to knock the stuffing out of Leicester, who created very little afterward.The Foxes were unchanged from the side that started last weekend's defeat at Millwall, although striker Martyn Waghorn was fit enough for a place on the bench following surgery to remove his appendix.

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay made three changes after seeing his side's 100 per cent home record ended by struggling Peterborough.

Mark Hudson returned to skipper the side after suspension, which saw Matt Connolly revert to right-back and Kevin McNaughton drop to the bench.

Kim Bo-kyung was also restored to the starting line up in place of Craig Noone, while Jordon Mutch took the place of Don Cowie.

Leicester started brightly with Danny Drinkwater firing over early on.

David Nugent became the first home player of the afternoon to be frustrated by Marshall when the Scot parried his effort from the edge of the area.

Smash and grab: Craig Bellamy scores the only goal of the game

King struck a post after 13 minutes when the ball broke to him outside the area after Marshall had kept out Wes Morgan's header.

Marshall then twice denied Anthony Knockaert when the Frenchman let fly from long range before Bellamy delivered the killer blow for the Foxes.

Jamie Vardy might have done better than head over the crossbar before half-time in what turned out to be Leicester's final real chance.

Pearson's side tried to push for an equalising goal in the second half, but were always wary of the threat caused by Bellamy's pace, perhaps preventing them from committing as many players forward as they would have liked.

Nugent and substitute Ben Marshall fired in shots from outside the box but never worried the Cardiff keeper.

Back-to-back defeats are a blow to Leicester's automatic promotion aspirations, which will come under intense scrutiny again on Boxing Day when they travel to Pearson's former club Hull.

The victory gives Cardiff a slight cushion ahead of their home game against title rivals Crystal Palace in four day's time.

Just like that: Conway ended Sheffield Wednesday's hopes late in the day

Taylor and Bellamy then swapped roles to create the Bluebirds' next
opening with Bellamy missing the target with a header after Peter
Whittingham's inch-perfect through-ball sent Taylor scampering down the
left.

Jordon Mutch, who celebrated his 21st birthday with his first start
since September, was next to get in on the act with a fizzing effort
which was almost headed past his own keeper by Miguel Llera.

Cardiff were beginning to up the ante against a side 23 points below
them and four minutes later Mutch tried his luck again, his powerful
drive from distance parried by Owls goalkeeper Chris Kirkland before the
ball was hacked to safety by Llera.

Top of the pile: Cardiff made it 10 home wins from 10

Struggling: Wednesday remain in the drop zone

Despite their hosts' midfield dictating proceedings this Wednesday side
showed little resemblance to the one comprehensively thrashed at home by
Watford on Tuesday as they saw out the rest of the first half without
any real difficulty.

Having found the back of the net in their last 17 Championship matches
it seemed only a matter of time before Malky Mackay's men made the
breakthrough.

Bellamy fired into the midriff of Kirkland and the former Coventry
goalkeeper did well to hold onto Mark Hudson's flick from Bellamy's
cross but Wednesday were proving a tough nut to crack.

Wednesday did switch off at a free-kick allowing Bellamy to cross for
Conway to fire over the bar but a minute later only Marshall denied them
a shock opener. Michail Antonio slipped the first-half substitute
through and his low drive from the right-hand side of the box was well
saved by the Scot's legs.

Then history was made with the next real chance in the 80th minute,
substitute Joe Mason nodding the ball back into the path of Conway just
outside the box. The former Dundee United winger controlled the ball on
his right knee before firing a left-footed shot into Kirkland's bottom
right-hand corner to spark wild celebrations in south Wales.